Author
"A gifted storyteller whose writing simply sweeps you along." - Los Angeles Times
My Books
All books are available to buy online at AMAZON
Richard Wyn Jones
Bio
I was born and raised in a small seaside town of Cardigan on the west coast of Wales.
After University, I spent many years working for various Blue Chip companies in Advertising and Marketing in London before finally moving back to the countryside, eventually settling in the idyllic Cotswold region of England, where I've had more time to focus on my writing.
From a very early age I had a keen interest in “crafting” stories and would get lost for hours in my adventures. My working career in predominantly senior creative positions enabled me to continue this childhood passion and fuelled my dream to eventually attempt to write a full-blown novel.
I found books like, Animal Farm, Tarka the Otter, Animals of Farthing Wood, Watership Down, Wind in the Willows, Duncton Wood, fascinating as a child and that love of this genre certainly had a strong influence in the way I approached my storytelling.
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I love writing animal fiction because it can go to places that other stories can’t. In animal fiction the worlds are really different and viewed through non-human eyes, vividly allowing the reader to be drawn into their environment. That sense of realism gives the reader an insight into the world the animals live in.
The adventures are exciting because you can be hunted by a predator, swept away by a river, or battered by the weather. But the stories also have built in safety-valves because the characters aren’t human. And so, as an author I can, carefully, go to more difficult places and sensitively deal with human subject matters that might otherwise be more challenging to deal with.
My biggest hope is that people really enjoy the characters and the journey they take as much as I enjoyed creating them.
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Book Reviews
All books are available to buy online at AMAZON
A Squirrel's Tale
"Fantastic book written brilliantly by a talented writer.” - Publishers Weekly
"A Dark moving tale of survival in the world of squirrel’s that will have you on the edge of your seats." – Goodreads
"Braveheart meets Watership Down, but with Squirrels." - Amazon
"A truly enjoyable read. A Squirrel’s Tale is an exciting adventure that never slows, never bores, and never disappoints the reader." - Barnes & Noble
"A Squirrel's Tale is an enthralling adventure that soon absorbs the reader. It was impossible not to become engrossed in Rusty's world and to care about the red squirrel clans' future. The characters are so well constructed you quickly feel for them and care about their predicament. Dewdrop's stories and wise words are memorable. In fact, the book is very thought-provoking.
It has been particularly enjoyable discussing the novel with my fourteen-year-old son; he has become equally engrossed in this wonderful tale."
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"Dear Richard, I felt compelled to write to you just to thank you so much for your wonderful story, A Squirrel’s Tale. I actually read the kindle version and absolutely loved it. I then bought it as a paperback through my local bookstore in the hope that my X Box mad son (he’s 13) would engage in something other than his mind-numbing computer games. I am a working single mother, so it can be hard sometimes to get that quality time with him.
Anyway, I finally, reluctantly, managed to persuade him(there was some – I’ll take your mobile phone away if you don’t at least give it a try moments) to read it.
He snatched the book from me in a way only teenagers do and disappeared into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. In typical defiance, for a few days the book stayed on his bedside table untouched, but one morning I noticed a page corner turned on the start of the second chapter.
The following night, as I passed his bedroom, I noticed the light on and peeped in. I asked if he was OK and he – a little embarrassed at first revealed that he was reading your book and that he thought it was really exciting and he didn’t think that books could be that exciting. I sat on his bed, and I think it was the first real conversation about ”life” that we’d had in ages. We talked about parts of the book that he’d read so far and compared thoughts and feelings, he hugged me.
He finished the book and on World Book Day in school he spoke to the class about the story, some of his friends teased him, but he was fine with this. He still plays on his X Box but has now developed a real interest in reading, and we seem to spend more time discussing different things that have brought us closer together.
Thank you once again, and I really look forward to your next book. I would be very grateful if you email me when it becomes available.
Best wishes
Chloe Johnson-Brown
Orange County California
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"I read this book to my 9 year old son, a chapter each night. We could hardly wait to get to our reading! It is fantasy with values; good vs. evil, where good triumphs; quite an emotional roller coaster with lots of suspense, laughter and sadness along the way. It’s hugely moving and grips you from the first page to the last and the characters are wonderful. I actually can't think of any negative points about this book. Going to keep a sharp eye out when this comes out on paperback hopefully. Definitely one for the bookshelf. I highly recommend it to older children and adults alike- you won't be disappointed!!!"– Amazon UK Kindle customer
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Dear Richard, I’m 64 years young and bought this book for my grandson who is 13 as a gift, he loves books like this. Who said you can’t judge a book by its cover? It was the cover that attracted me to the book. Those dark eyes behind the red squirrel, almost as if they were looking at me. He spoke so much about the story and the characters that I decided to buy a copy for myself. I’ve never been to Scotland but after reading the story and the wonderful descriptions of the landscape it’s definitely a country that will be at the top of my bucket list.
A Squirrel’s Tale, once you start, transports you into their world, you are among them, feeling their feelings, seeing through their eyes and living the excitement and adventure from your own home. This novel is imaginative, emotional and easy to get caught up in. I am quite critical of books and I sometimes find it hard to get into the story but this book is fantastic. Characters are engaging and believable and you care so much about them. I will warn you to read it with a box of tissues handy. If you want to get lost in wonderful fantasy for a while then buy this book, it’s great! - Alice Minchin, Houston Texas
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The Prairie Drifter - Vol 1 Journey of Discovery
"An epic adventure. A gripping story of courage, loyalty, love and hatred" – Washington Post
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"A richly woven tale which draws the reader effortlessly into this magic world of wild horses. Another great piece of work from a very accomplished author" – Book World
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"What a book! I was thoroughly gripped right from the start. That first chapter sucked me in and I was there in the hills with Abrazo. Your scenic descriptions are truly wonderful.
Just when I got comfortable thinking that he’s the hero and the one we’re going on the journey with, he’s killed!
Bravo for this, because my mind started racing once more as the story picked up another pace.
That Shade character is a pretty unpleasant guy, just the sort I’d like to get my teeth into if it was a script, brilliantly developed.
The way you’ve woven in real life situations brings an extra dimension to the magic you’ve created. Once again you’ve shaped a fascinating adventure which I found riveting throughout. As you know I’m not a big reader but I couldn’t put it down and finished it within three days, in between filming. Excellent. I will recommend this to all my friends.
I can see animation all over this one! First class! Amazing!" - DAVID GANT Actor
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Dear Richard, My name is Zoey Miller and I’m writing to you from Cheyenne City, Wyoming. I recently came across your book The Prairie Drifter, looking for a small something for Christmas for my daughter Emma who is 12 and loves horses and as the story was set in my State and features wild mustangs I thought it would be perfect.
Unlike many children I know, she loves reading and its surprising or maybe a sign of the times that it’s not so easy to find good books for this age group. It came via Amazon in a few days great! Love the cover by the way.
I thought I’d better check it out first, just in case, so I read it. Wow!
Straight away I was there in the wilderness, which was so beautifully described and vivid. I like books myself but have never thought of reading this type of thing and it opened up a whole new world for me.
I loved the characters and must admit I felt sad when you killed off some of them. Shade is a particularly nasty individual who I hope gets his due in the final book. I really liked the scene where Star is chased through the woods by wolves, even my heart was racing and his meeting and friendship with Migisi the eagle.
I also love the way you’ve woven some historical facts and encounters into the book it makes it so realistic especially when he is with Flying Hawk the Lakota boy, it just helped to build the richness of the whole story. I couldn’t put it down and finished it in a few days! Never done that with a book before.
I’m sure my daughter will really like this book. It’s such a great adventure story packed with so much excitement and I’m really looking forward to the final part when it comes out.
I’ve already ordered A Squirrel’s Tale, your first book which I’ve not received yet but looking forward to another great story, which I’m sure it is.
I think it’s very clever how you’ve managed to write in a way that will capture the interest of younger children right up to adults, then I suppose everyone likes a good story if it’s told well.
Please keep my email address and let me know when the second volume of Prairie Drifter is due and how I could get a signed copy maybe.
Best regards
Zoey Miller
Cheyenne City
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The Prairie Drifter - Vol 2 The Long Road Home
"Brimming with gutsy excitement that leaps off the page and straight into the imagination." - Country Living.
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"An epic tale of passion, courage, fear and love. An utterly absorbing piece of work." - Publishers Weekly
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Contact
For all enquiries, including how to get signed author copies with a personal message, please email: richardjonesgbr@netscape.net
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